dancing INNER FREEDOMS

“When we are no longer able to change a situation,

we are challenged to change ourselves.”

_Viktor E. Frankl

Viktor Frankl, who endured unbelievable suffering, went on to create a beautiful message in the world of psychology – the existential drive to create meaning in life. The capacity to survive and thrive often comes from an inner liberation – a freedom we find when we break out of the shackles of both externally imposed limitations and self-imposed beliefs. One aspect of true freedom is to find it within ourselves by connecting with our true identity and expressing it fully in the world.

We don’t all have to go on intense heroic journeys to find ourselves; we can do it with lightness and fun. One of the ways is through dance—when we move into spaces of pleasure and enjoyment of life by connecting with the lightness of being. In the dance, we embody freedom when we follow the invitation of rhythm and music without any restraints. We let go of control, be it from limiting beliefs or unrealistic expectations. Our dance is perfect just the way it is, and so are we.

When we are fully in the flow of the dance, there are no obstacles to feeling and embodying the pleasure of living. As we learn to surrender to the creative flow of our dances, so we find ways to surrender to the flow of our lives. When we connect with this, our dances become a celebration of movement, meaning, and freedom—dancing not just with our feet, but with the fullness of who we are.

_Christos Daskalakos